Method of stripping ingots from their molds.



E. GATHMANN. METHOD 0F STRIPPING INGOTS PROM THEIR MOLDS. APPLICATION FILED APB.. 1| 19.12.

1,05 9,668- Patented Apr. 22, 1913.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFI@E.

EMIL GATHMANN,

OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

METHOD STBIPPING ING-OTS FROM THEIR MOLDS.

Loaaccs.

Application filed April 1, 1912. Serial No. 6.787,702.

specification.

This invention relates to the manufacture of ingots in which molten metal is poured into a mold having a chamber larger in d1- ameter at the top than at the bottom andopen at top and bottom, the bottom. of the mold being separately connected with a suitable stool. Heretofore after the ingot has partially solidified in such molds, it has been customary to reverse or turn the mold with the contained ingot upside down and then lift the mold away from the ingot, but this operation, besides being diiiicult, results in the formation of pipe in the body of the ingot, producing iiaws in the final product.

`ends and lifting them The primary object of my invention is to provide a way for withdrawing the ingot from the mold without reversing it. To accomplish this result I first cast the ingot in the mold, then lift the mold and the contained ingot, then lower the mold and' ingot onto an ingot lifter which forces the .ingot part-way out of the mold and then by suitable lifting devices grasp the ingot by its upper or larger end and lift it entirely out of the mold. Very simple appliancesy may be used in performing these operations and they can be quickly and easily effected.

The accompanying drawing shows the preferred way of stripping ingots from their molds in accordance with my invention.

Figure 1 molds carried by cars and mechanism for lifting the molds and the contained ingots from the stools supporting them and conveying them to the ingot lifters. Fig. 2 shows how the ingots are raised part-way out of themolds. Fig. 3 illustrates the manner of grasping the ingots by their upper or larger entirely out of the molds. Fig. 4 is a perspective View showing nism.

the construction of the mold-lifting mecha- In Fig. l I have shown twomolds-A mounted on a truck B traveling on tracks C as usual. The molds may be of any suitable constructionbut are preferably of the form shown where the lower part of the mold is made relatively thick and the upper Specification of Letters Patent.

Amore rapidly than the shows diagrammatically ingot,

Patented Apr. 22, 1 913.

part relatively thin whereby the lower part of 'the ingot is made to cool and solidify upper part. The mold chamber is largerin diameter at the top than at the bottom and is open at oppo-V site ends. Each mold rests on a suitable stool .fr and can be separated from the stool by merely raising the mold. .I

An overhead crane D of Well "known construction is provided, the carriage E traveling on rails F and support-ing a truck G carrying the mold lifters H. Each mold'- lit'ter preferably comprises a hydraulic cylinder lr. having a suitable piston and a piston-rod it to the lower end of which is secured a pair of arms h2 having recesscsits adapted to receive the laterally projecting lugs a of the mold. Preferably also the arms are provided with lugs 7L* adapted to rest on the top of the mold as shown in Fig. 4. I

VI have also shown in Fig. l, a truck B carrying ingot-lifters 'I which are adapted to enter the mold chambers, engage the ingots and raise them part-way out of the molds. These lifters may be of any suitable construction. They neednot'be mounted on a truck, but may be supported in any suitable way.

Soon after the molds have been teemed and the'ingots have been partially solidified, the mold-lifters are caused to engagev the lugs a. of the molds and then the molds are raised from their stools and carried to a posit-ion over the ingot-lifters I in the manner shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, then the molds are dropped in the manner indicated inl Fig. 2 and the ingot-lifters will then enter the mold chambers and 'raise the ingots part-way out of said chambers, then the mold-lifters'H are withdrawn and ingotlifting mechanism K, of any suitable construction, is caused to grasp the ingots by their upper or larger endsand withdraw them entirely from the molds and if desired convey them to a so vking pit, or any other suitable destination. l

It will be observed that the mold-lifting mechanism is so constructed that it ma .be made to -readily engage the mold to 1i tit, and when the mold is lowered the lifters may-be caused to push the mold down-ward relatively to the ingot, or to hold t-he mold while the ingot is lifter I.

lVhile I have shown the molds arranged being raised by the ingotin pairs, it is to be understood that one mold only need be employed in performing the process. The mechanism employed is extremely simple and the steps of the process can be quickly and easily performed. The objectionable feature incident to prior methods of reversing or turning the mold upside down is eliminated.

I claim as my invention:

1. The method of stripping an ingotl from its mold, which consists in raising the mold with its contained ingot from the sealing stool, lowering the mold and ingot onto an ingot lifter which raises the ingot part-way out of the mold chamber, and then gripping the upper part of the ingot and lifting it out of the mold. A

2. The method herein described, which consists in casting an ingot in a mold se arable from its support, raising the mod and the contained ingot from the sealing stool, lowering them onto an ingot-lifterwhich yraises the ingot in the mold chamber and then pulling the ingot out of the mold. 1

3. The methodl herein described, which consists in casting an ingot in a mold sepstool and carrying them away from their support, lowering them onto an ingot--lifter which raises the ingot in the mold chamber and then pulling the ingo-t out of the mold.

4. The herein described apparatus for stripping ingots from their molds, comprising mechanism for separating the mold with its contained ingot from their sealing stool, means yfor Aconveying the mold and ingot away from said stool, an ingot-lifter onto which the mold is lowered by said lifting and conveying means and which lraises the ingot in the mold chamber, and means engaging the upper end of the ingot for raising it entirely out of the mo-ld.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

' EMIL GATHMANN. IVitnesses:

' M. ESTELLE FAY,

' FRANK B. SMITH.. 

